SLAITO introduces ‘Sancharaka Udawa’

‘Sancharaka Udawa’ will be held on 31 January 2012 at the Ceylon Continental Hotel from 3 p.m. onwards

Sri Lanka will witness one of the most unique initiatives taken by the travel and tourism industry for the second consecutive year, in the form of ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ 2012.

Conceptualised and spearheaded by the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and organised by the Sri Lanka Professional Conference Exhibition and Event Organisers with the backing of Sri Lanka Tourism, the event will see the gamut of the country’s tourism products and services share one single platform, enabling them to expand and serve the industry better.

The focal point of ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ 2012 like in the previous year is to give companies and individuals with unique offerings who fall out of the category of large scale businesses, a chance to showcase their products and services within the industry and to the public.

Therefore, the event is seen as a meeting ground for a multitude of products and service providers to share their business ideas, network and most importantly innovate and give the traveller the best that Sri Lanka could offer.

SLAITO President Nilmin Nanayakkara is of the opinion that this is the ideal meeting place for all medium and small scale service providers.

He said, “The concept behind the thinking of the event ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ was the simple fact that this country has so much to offer to the world and in order to harness all these offerings we saw the need of a common meeting ground. With the dawn of peace within the country there is tremendous focus and interest among travellers to witness the beauty of the island. We believe that Sri Lanka has a lot to offer that would overwhelm and visitor. The big players within the industry have with them the capacity to showcase and market their products and services and the small and medium scale business within the tourism industry are usually left in the lurch despite having unique products and services. It is this void that we wish to fill and that was the thinking behind the success story that is – Sancharaka Udawa.”

The participants for the event would be but not confined to, promoters of Villas, boutique Hotels, small scale guest houses, bungalows and heritage properties as well as home-stays in strategic locations with potential for tourism together, restaurants at mid-way points in cities and small towns; bars, cafes and coffee houses.

The rising demand for adventure sports would see ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ hosting Sports and soft adventure providers who offer water sports, boat trips, cycle trails, white water rafting, mountain climbing, camping sites and dormitory-type accommodation in wildlife parks and all other areas within the adventure sports circuit. The rising demand for quality transport providers will provide vehicle owners, wildlife jeep transport agents or owners, rail transport providers a unique opportunity to meet exhibit and promote their services to the industry.

Sri Lanka Professional Conference Exhibition and Event Organisers President Imran Hassan stated that with the beginning of a new era in the country, it is crucial that Sri Lanka has the best and most innovative offerings shown to the world.

He said. “This is the best time to show the world the beauty that is Sri Lanka. Many tourists and Locals today love to travel and explore the country, through ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ we want to create a good network within the industry itself which would help us serve the travellers better on one hand the service providers would get the much needed attention and appreciation for their service and products on the other.”

 ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ will provide a “link” between all players within the industry, and for the event to be held in 2012 the organisers have taken a unique initiative to those who are interested in investing within the countries travel and tour industry.

State banks will provide advice and also offer attractive interest rates on loans together with Insurance companies who will offer consultations on health and safety related to tourism.